Posted: 4/25/2026 9:34:24 AM EDT
[Last Edit: dmk0210][Edited]
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I love red dot sights on handguns. I truly believe they are a force multiplier and run drills with them often. All my HD handguns have a weapon mounted light and red dot sight. I gulp the RDS Koolaid by the gallon. However, while I do carry IWB with an RDS and WML, I'm finding handguns so equipped to be too bulky for other methods of carry. I pocket carry a P356 often. It's slick with just iron sights and nothing on the rail (I carry a flashlight). I have a G19 in my car's console, slick with just iron sights and a compact TLR6 on the rail. A slick P365XL tucks into an easily accessible outside pocket on my get home bag. In the winter I often have a revolver in a coat pocket as a quickly accessible option vs the automatic in a holster or pants pocket buried under the cold weather clothing. I find aside from a holster somewhere around the waistband, it's much easier to stick a slick unencumbered handgun somewhere accessible. Even a micro compact handgun with a RDS and WML can be just too bulky with lots of snag potential. Anybody else here who prefers an RDS but often prefers carrying a handgun with irons? |
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Me!! All my competition pistols have red dots, but my carry are still irons. I need to have my M&P compact milled for an RDS. Attached File |
If you don't have a plan, you can't change it.
| I'm torn. Put dots on my full size and compact in the last year and have been shooting pretty well with them. Shot a coworker's new Gen FN HP (no optics cut) last week and after a few shots to sort out the sights was knocking down poppers quicker than with any gun I've had since moving away from 1911s snd definitely better than my striker pistols with dots. Made me question if we should really just be looking for guns that better suit us and to improve our skills, and not searching for more crutches. Carried professionally for 30 years in LE in tac and investigations roles so not new to carrying, shooting, combat pistol training, etc. I thought dots would help with my aging eyes but I have may have had more gains from just finding a gun that agrees with me better. Obviously it's a different argument for tactical rifles. |
Crap Magnet Extraordinaire
| I’m the same way OP. I have red dots for qualifications, and carry irons year round. Summer carry is a stainless .357 snub nose in my pocket. I do train with a red dot and occasionally carry one of my P365 variants with a red dot, but always come back to the irons. |
RAT PACK REJECTS #3531
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Like everyone above, I run red dots on my USPSA and Multigun handguns, but I prefer irons on my defensive handguns. My daily CCW is a stock P365 which alternates between belt and pocket carry, so minimizing bulk is a priority. Even my SHTF handgun is just a backup to the rifle, so less bulk on the belt is preferred. The only carry gun with a red dot is my M&P 10mm bear gun. I shoot all these handguns in matches from time to time to stay proficient. I am fortunate that I still shoot iron sights well enough for any defensive purposes. If/when that changes, I won’t have a problem switching to a dot. I have all the guns and gear but not yet the necessity. |
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I don’t carry on a completely regular basis as it’s difficult in my normal locations. When I do I prefer as compact as possible and since I’m pretty proficient with iron sights my preferred carry gun doesn’t have a red dot. I do practice regularly with irons on handguns but I shoot most of my rifles and PCC’s using optics, mostly red dots. |
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I have four RDS equipped handguns and 14 iron sighted handguns. All of the 18 are guns I have and could carry again, although four of my handguns handle 99% of my carry needs. (S&W 442 Pro, SA Hellcat OSP with HS 507K, GG19 with RMR, and Kimber Compact CDP) I have shot enough rounds through the RDS equipped guns to feel I'm 'competent' with them. My preference in carrying has nothing to do with the sighting method, it's more a circumstance of which weapon fits the days needs insofar as perceived danger and clothing being worn, and to be perfectly honest it's mostly what I feel like carrying. |
The right to own weapons is the right to be free.
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Originally Posted By Czechers:Made me question if we should really just be looking for guns that better suit us and to improve our skills, and not searching for more crutches. Carried professionally for 30 years in LE in tac and investigations roles so not new to carrying, shooting, combat pistol training, etc. I thought dots would help with my aging eyes but I have may have had more gains from just finding a gun that agrees with me better. I was trying some comparing some different guns the other day with timed speed and accuracy drills, and found one with a certain aftermarket grip (shape or texture, maybe both) worked significantly better for me, even against other handguns that had far better triggers and much better mechanical accuracy. |
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Originally Posted By MoonDancer:My preference in carrying has nothing to do with the sighting method, it's more a circumstance of which weapon fits the days needs insofar as perceived danger and clothing being worn... Or maybe being able to surreptitiously get a firing grip on a weapon without looking like you are drawing a weapon, may be prudent when it's only condition yellow and you definitely do not want to draw attention to yourself (like hands in a jacket pocket on a cold day looks very innocuous). |
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| I've been carrying with a weapon-mounted light for almost a decade, and an optic for about a year. With a proper holster, I don't notice the difference in size / bulk. I use a smaller light (TLR-7A) for carry pistols and find that it doesn't make any difference size-wise because it's about the same length as the slide. I'm fairly new to pistol optics, but I already find that I acquire the dot faster than with just irons, and I don't want to give that up for carry. Like the light, I find that the optic doesn't make any difference in size or comfort for me because it's just protruding a bit forward of the pistol when worn inside my belt. The drawback for me is that my budget doesn't allow for optics on every pistol I'd like to have the option to carry - namely a microcompact (P365XL). Yes, I should probably forego that next pistol purchase in favor of another optic, but in the meantime, I'm fine carrying a larger compact pistol with optic. |
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Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: I already find that I acquire the dot faster than with just irons, and I don't want to give that up for carry. Like the light, I find that the optic doesn't make any difference in size or comfort for me because it's just protruding a bit forward of the pistol when worn inside my belt. Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: I already find that I acquire the dot faster than with just irons, and I don't want to give that up for carry. Like the light, I find that the optic doesn't make any difference in size or comfort for me because it's just protruding a bit forward of the pistol when worn inside my belt. It's when you get into unconventional and improvised carry methods where these devices start to become a hindrance vs concealability and quick access without getting snagged on clothing and such. To be honest, this is where guns like the Sig SAS, Taurus Curve, the old classic ASP and a slicked out hammerless J-Frame or LCR come into their own. Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout:The drawback for me is that my budget doesn't allow for optics on every pistol I'd like to have the option to carry - namely a microcompact (P365XL). Yes, I should probably forego that next pistol purchase in favor of another optic, but in the meantime, I'm fine carrying a larger compact pistol with optic. |
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It took me a long time to come around to RDS on pistols but now that i have, I'm not going back. I still have a couple of pistols with iron sights but the vast majority are all equipped with optics. I am thinking about picking up some more classic iron sight pistols (M9, 1911, BHP) for nostalgic reasons but that's about it |
Having a bayonet is the very definition of bringing a knife to a gun fight
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Originally Posted By 3ACR_Scout: I've been carrying with a weapon-mounted light for almost a decade, and an optic for about a year. With a proper holster, I don't notice the difference in size / bulk. I use a smaller light (TLR-7A) for carry pistols and find that it doesn't make any difference size-wise because it's about the same length as the slide. I'm fairly new to pistol optics, but I already find that I acquire the dot faster than with just irons, and I don't want to give that up for carry. Like the light, I find that the optic doesn't make any difference in size or comfort for me because it's just protruding a bit forward of the pistol when worn inside my belt. The drawback for me is that my budget doesn't allow for optics on every pistol I'd like to have the option to carry - namely a microcompact (P365XL). Yes, I should probably forego that next pistol purchase in favor of another optic, but in the meantime, I'm fine carrying a larger compact pistol with optic. I agree. I carried a Glock26 with iron sights off duty for over a decade. I bought a G43X in 23 and added a red dot and I have not carried the G26 since.I keep saying Im gonna get its slide milled for an optic but $$. |
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There is no doubt that red dots are a leap in capability in the handgun. Being an old school guy brought up in precision competition ( bullseye matches starting in my mid teens and going to be 60 this year) my use of irons is a subconscious act essentially. Young shooters not yet ingrained in irons take to dots fast, and for aging eyes that struggle with irons it can be a huge game changer. But not everyone falls into those categories. When I shoot matches I will typically score better than about 1/3 of the field using red dots with my irons. It really takes time and effort to optimize technique and skill with the dot. Those that put the effort in and get good with them are almost impossible to best with irons in regard to speed and accuracy. I still edge them out here and there however For carry I can’t handle IWB like I could when I was younger. I never embraced appendix which seems what all the cool kids are doing. I have nothing against it if it works for you, but my body shape ( short fat low waist ) doesn’t work with it at all. When I carry a mid to full size gun it is 3 O’Clock OWB which doesn’t happen that often. Most of my carry based on my realistic lifestyle wardrobe etc. is a micro gun ( J frame, Ruger LCPII) in a pocket holster no red dot there |
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I have a RMR HD on a Glock 19 Gen6 with a TLR-7 HLX as the main go-to for carry and a Bodyguard 2.0 for those special occasions where I need something significantly smaller. They have been the primary two means of carry for me. Yet, here I am carrying my Beretta 92 full size daily with nothing hanging off the Picatinny rail, no optic, and just irons. I just really like the gun and shoot well with it and do not mind the weight at all (I even carry a spare 20 rounder and am only 5' 7" average build). I gravitate to it because I just like the 92 for a multitude of reasons outside of things that are serious. That is likely the reason why I shoot it so well despite the other two being more purpose driven purchases. I believe its more so the gun I prefer carrying than the preference between irons and dot sights. I will say however I do not feel at all at a disadvantage with irons when choosing to leave the Glock at home. I feel those that grew up on irons can say this pretty confidently so long as their eye sight still allows it. Many in my age group have skipped irons all together (handgun and long gun) and went straight to dots and I would be curious if they would be able to say the same. |
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Originally Posted By KissMethod17:I will say however I do not feel at all at a disadvantage with irons when choosing to leave the Glock at home. I feel those that grew up on irons can say this pretty confidently so long as their eye sight still allows it. Many in my age group have skipped irons all together (handgun and long gun) and went straight to dots and I would be curious if they would be able to say the same. I love the simplicity and KISS of an iron sighted handgun. Clean and slick. No batteries. Nothing to fail unless it is physically smashed. But I'm having more and more trouble seeing the front sight clearly in anything but excellent lighting. The red dot really is a game changer in that regard. Doing drills on a timer with exactly the same guns but one has an RDS and the other iron sights, I'm both faster and more accurate with the RDS. Even at very close distance. And I have astigmatism so even a dot's not super clear and sharp to me either. |
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Originally Posted By wvfarrier:I like red dots for accuracy but I am much faster with irons With the right techniques and enough practice, you should get faster with the dot. That's due to target focus and sighting on only a single plane (just the target, not front sight, rear sight, target). |
| I have red dots on my G19 and Shield Plus and that’s pretty much all I’ve shot pistol wise for the last couple of years. I just got a Bodyguard 2.0 and shot it for the first time today with plain ole irons and was actually happy with how I shot. Hadn’t shot pistol/irons in some time but it all came right back just fine. I won’t say I prefer irons but they did just fine. I’d say I’m slightly quicker with a red dot but likely not enough to make a life or death difference…God willing. |
Find around and fuck out.
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I carry a CC9 with no light/optic during the day, while I carry a pistol with a light only if I go out at night. My G19 with a light and optic was a no go even when I was fat and wearing big clothes. Now that I’m considerably more fit it’s absolutely annoying as shit to walk around with a suitcase on my waist. Even just a light sucks. With my CC9 I can bend any direction or roll around on the ground and not know it’s there. No one else does either. |
| On my p365 which I carry as a minimal weight/bulk concealment weapon I leave it to irons. Of my 3 G19s 2 of them have RDS and 2 of my in between guns on those have RDS (SS CR920X and Hellcat PRO comp). I have no problem carrying any of these weapons with jeans (or jeans shorts) and a slightly larger shirt. I tend to stick to the 920x or the G19COA. |
What it boils down to is that they fear an effective resistance to their power: So, Left in power=Guns bad, mmmmkay...?, Right in power=Guns good!-thskirk
| I still carry an iron sighted handgun 99% of the time. I only have one gun with an RMR (G17) and I usually only carry it when I'm on security duty at church where it's easy to conceal with my vest. Thanks to my 57-year-old eyes I'd prefer to have a red dot on everything, but damn that would get expensive considering I carry different guns. |
